I had an aquarium for about 2 1/2 years. Wow... I went through SOOO many fish... I think at least 40 some! The last batch I had a really pretty fantail goldfish, a regular goldfish and a cute little algea eater. Anyhow, my family and I went on vacation and I put in one of those vacation feeder things. well apparently that wasn't enough for them and the two gold fish ATE the algea eatter!!! there was just it's little skeleton sitting at the bottom and my two goldfish were hiding in the corner looking guilty! (they died a couple of days later)

Another story close to your's Jan! My parents went on vacation and left thier fish "Bert" with my grandmother. They never cleaned his tank because that's how he liked it, anyhow my grandmother decided she'd give it a really good cleaning. Took out ALL the old water and scrubbed everything clean and shiny with bleach! She put Bert back in and he died! When my parents came back they noticed the tank was sparkling clean and there was a much skinnier "Bert" in place.